Top for percolators and the like



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 21', 1935. E. P. SEGHERS TOP FOR PERCOLATORS AND THE LIKE Filed July 12, 1928 May 21, 1935. E. P. SEGHERS 2,002,354

TOP FOR PERCOLATORS AND THE LIKE Filed July 12, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 21, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 44 Claims.

This invention relates to covers for percolators or similar vessels, comprising a lid and a glass top, and has for one of its objects the provision of means whereby the glass tops are retained in place in the lid without danger of being loosened by heating or cooling, the retaining means being arranged to permit easy removal of the top, when desired.

A further object is to provide a percolator top which is economical to manufacture, of improved construction, and eiucient and convenient in use. 'Another object is to provide a convenient retaining means for holding the top in place, and with both the construction of the top and the retaining means so arranged as to co-operate with one another toward a common end.

Another object of this invention is to provide resilient retaining means arranged between the top and lid of the cover for retaining the top in "operative position withrespect to the lid while permitting the top and lid to expand and. contract at different rates without damage to the top and without impairing the utility of the retaining means. Another object of the invention is to provide resilient retaining means which can be used with standard percolator tops as'well as with the improved tops shown herein.

Another object is to provide aseparate ring for retaining the top and the lid in co-operative relation with each other, the ring being preferably provided with means for removably securing the same to the lid and including resilient means engaging the lid and/or top soas to compensate for unequal expansion and contraction'of said top and lid.

Another object is to provide a glass top having a depending fiangewith a recess below the outer peripheral surface thereof for the reception of a retaining means either separate from the lid and top or affixed thereto or carried thereby, the

retaining means comprising preferably a continuous ring having portions thereof adapted to engage the underside of the lid and other portions arranged within the recess to engage an upwardly facing shoulder or abutment surface forming a wall of the recess to prevent separation of said top and lid.

A still further object of this invention is to pro- 50 vide a top having 2. depending apron or flange,

with a downwardly and outwardly sloping face.

adapted to be engaged by a yielding retaining means on the lid or arranged between the lid and top whereby upon the relative expansion and 5 contraction of the top and lid, the resilient means may slide over the downwardly and outwardly sloping face to prevent damage to the top while at the same time maintaining proper operative relationship between the top and lid.

Another object of this invention is to provide resilient means for holding a glass top in the lid of a percolator cover with freedom of expansion and contraction while at the same time providing means for resisting or preventing relative rotation between the same.

The invention is exemplified in the combination and arrangement of parts shown and described herein and it is more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly trating one form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail view of the top shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a viewin section of a lid equipped with one form of my top retaining means and illustrating the application of the same to a conventional type of percolator top;

Fig. 4 is a view in vertical section of a portion of a coffee pot or the like with another form of my retaining means on the lid for another form of my percolator top which is shown in elevation;

Fig. 5 is a detail view in side elevation of still another form of my improved percoator top;

Fig. 6 is a view in section of a lid with still another form of my retainer for another form of my percolator top which isshown in elevation;

Fig. 7 is a View in section of a lid showing still another form of retainer and a percolator top similar to the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 8 is a View of a lid having an integral top retainer which is also embraced by my invention and showing in combination therewith that form of lid illustrated in Fig. 7

. Fig. 9 is a detail view in section of a lid showing the retainer illustrated in Fig. 7 apart from the top;

Fig! 10 is a top plan view of the lid shown in Figs. '7 and 9; I

Fig. 11 is a detail perspective view of one the spring tongue retaining means;

Fig. 12 is a detail view in end elevation of a modified form of spring tongueretaining device;

Fig. 13 is a detail view in side elevation of still another form of a spring tongue retaining means;

Fig. 14 is a view in side elevation of still another form of percolator top showing a. portion of the depending flange on a lid and the retaining devices ior the top;

15 in section, illus- .clips or fingers H.

Fig. is a detail View in cross-section of that form of the top shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a detail view of a portion of a percolator top showing the form of lug illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15; and

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the clip shown in Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, 5 represents a container lid which is adapted for use in connection with comparatively large cofiee urns or percolators and like containers, said lid being usually made of a non-resilient metal such as aluminum. The metal lid 5, as is customary in devices of this kind, is made with a central opening surrounded by a depending flange 6 and the percolator top '5 usually of glass, is interlocked in the opening in the lid by means of'a bayonet joint comprising lugs. As shown in Fig. 10, this bayonet joint may be made by providing notches 8 at diametrically opposite points in the peripheral edge of the central opening and in the depending flange ii so that the laterally projecting lugs 9 at the opposite sides of the apron iii of the top, having the configuration shown. in the drawings, may be registered with'these notches to seat the projecting lugs 9 below the edges of the flange 6; then, by turning the top 7, moving the projecting lugs 9 out of registration with the notches 8.

In my improved construction, I provide means other than the bayonet joint for retaining the top in place. I have found in practice that the bayonet joint alone is insufiicient for holding the top in place for the reason that when the hot cofiee or other liquid percolates into the top '5, the top, being made, of glass, expands and enlarges the opening in the lid, which is made of metal which will yield readily. The lid, usually being made of aluminum, is not as resilient as it should be to compensate for the expansion of the top. As a result, after the opening has been enlarged and when the top cools on", the opening is too large and the top then is freely rotatable so that it is very apt to rotate until the projecting lugs 9 register with the notches 8 and the top will then fall, out of the lid or the container when it is tilted.

Furthermore, the expansion of the glass top I is very apt to spread the opening to such anextent that the top will rotate while the coffee is percolating against it, which will cause the same to rattle.

Still another disadvantage of any device which relies entirely upon the bayonet joint to retain the top in place, is that the lugs, being comparatively short and having a small point of contact with the edge of the depending flange 8, makes it possible to easily pull the top out of the opening regardless of whether or not the-projecting lugs are in registry with the notches 8. As a matter of fact, practice has shown that the opening in the lid has sometimes become so enlarged that the top will even fall out without the projecting lugs 9 being in registry with the notches 8.

To overcome these and several other disadvantages in relying solely upon the bayonet joint arrangement to hold the top if in place, I have devised means other than the bayonet joint to retain the top in place and hold the same against rotation at least to the extent that it will not rotate wihout the application of manual force thereto.

According to Fig. 1, the top retaining means, in addition to the bayonet joint arrangement, comprises one or more depending spring tongues,

These are riveted or otherwise fastened, as at 2, to the underside of the lid on the outside of the boundary of the depending flange 6. These tongues are presented at a slight angle to the depending flange 6 and in position to engage the projecting lugs 9. The engagement between the spring tongues I i and the projecting lugs 9 may be made by providing perforations l I in the spring tongues, in which perforations the lugs seat, or else open slots in the edges of the spring tongues may be used as described later in connection with Fig. 13. These two possibilities are illustrated in Figs. 2 and 13 respectively, the slot being indicated by the reference character 58. With the construction so far described, by placing the top I in the opening in the lid and rotating the same, the lugs 9 will wipe against the spring tongues ii and when they register with the holes or slots therein, the resistance ofiered by the spring of the metal of the tongues will snap the lugs 9 in the closed open ings H or slots iii and arrest rotation of the top. The top will thus be held against rotation but it may be rotated by manual effort so as to disengage the lugs from the tongues so that the top may be rotated to register the lugs with the notches 8 for removing the top.

It will thus be seen that by applying one or more of these spring tongues to the lid, I provide means in addition to the bayonet joint arrangement for holding the top against rotation and for preventing its accidental displacement out of the opening. The resiliency of the metal of. the spring tongues and the fact that the lugs Q are tapered or conical in shape, will compensate for the expansion of the top when it is heated because the lugs will have a certain limited movement in the openings of the tongues against the resistance ofiered by the resiliency of the tongues,

For very large coffee urns or percolators, I propose to employ an extra pair of spring tongues I3 which may be either riveted to the top of the lid by rivets H2, or else riveted to the underside of the lid, as illustrated in Fig. 1, with their ends projecting through openings in the lid and terminating in hooks which will ride over the serrated or wavy edge M of the radial flange 15 which is formed as an integral part of the top 1. just below the dome thereof and above the apron Iii. The underside of this flange provides a ledge which rests upon the peripheral edge of the opening in the lid and acts as a stop for limiting the downward movement of the top into the opening. It will thus be seen that the flange is confined between the retaining tongues i3 and the peripheral edge of the central opening in the lid. The resiliency of the spring tongues 13 holds the, top against the edge of the opening under tension, making a close, intimate contact between the edge of the opening, preventing sediment from getting between the edge of the opening and the top and also making a good contact for transferring the heat of the lid to the glass top. Consequently, the top, instead of being heated suddenly, when the codes or other liquid percolates against it, will gradually be heated prior to the percolating of the coiiee or other liquid by having the heat of the lid transferred to it, as explained.

In the old form, where the top was loosely mounted in the opening, any sediment between the top and the edge of the opening would insulate the top from the lid and as a result, the top would stay practically cool. until the cofiee or other liquid percolated against it; then, being heated suddenly, it would expand and crack. The spring tongues l3 will be made out of metal which is resilient to compensate for expansion and contraction of the top and lid relative to each other, and, after the top is cooled off and contracted, the tongues will still retain the top against the edge of the opening under tension.

As a further feature of the retaining means for holding the top in the opening in the lid, I propose to form a circular depression or recess by configuring the lower part of the apron of the top with a beveled side It which terminates in a short outwardly and downwardly beveled surface H which in turn terminates in a ledge, projection or abutment [8. This ledge I8 is slanted in opposite directions from the diametrically opposite sides of the apron and each slanting length 7 of the ledge terminates in" a block-like radial area IS, the surface of which is flush with the outside circumference of the ledge l8. The projecting lugs 9 are formed on the surface of this area l9 and the end walls 20 of the area l9 are beveled peripherally so that the tongues II ride up over the surface I9 and snap over the lugs 9. When the top is first inserted in the opening, the spring tongues H occupy a position close to the beveled surface l6 with the lower edges thereof resting upon the ledge 18 so that as the top is rotated, these lower edges of the tongues wipe acrossthe ledge until they ride up over the surfaces-l9 of the raised areas on the apron. In order to accommodate the spring tongues or fingers I3, the radial flange I5 is interrupted as at 2! at diametrically opposite points on the top.

In the event that the projecting lugs 9 are not employed or should one or both of them be broken oil, the edges of the spring tongues II will engage the beveled side H and hold the top in place, and the bevel will allow for expansion and contraction. When the top expands, the edges of the spring tongues may slide onthe beveled surface I! and thus compensate for. expansion. The ledge IS with its upper substantially horizontal surface is simply an emergency stop to prevent withdrawal of the top from the opening without first registering the projections 9 with the notches 8. It is, of course, understood that when the projecting lugs 9 are not employed, the notches 8 will not be required.

In Fig. 3, I have illustrated an ordinary commercial type of percolator top la and shown the. use of the same in combination with my improved retaining device. The retaining device, in this respect, is riveted, as at I211. to the lid 50!. so that the spring tongues Ila. are presented substantially parallel with the depending flange 6a in a position to engage the projecting lugs Bar on the apron Ma of the top. Of course, in using the projecting lugs 9a, notches such as 8 shown in Fig. 10 are. provided in the peripheral edge of the opening in the lid, to enable the top to be inserted within the opening; then, by turning the top, the projecting lugs 90: wipe against the spring tongues, pressing them outwardly against the resilient resistance of the metal of the tongues and seating in the openings therein, as explained with reference to the co-operating spring tongues and projecting lugs in Figs. 1 and 2.

As illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the holes 62 in the spring tongues Ila which receive the projecting lugs 9a are slightly larger than the lugsso as to allow for a limited vertical movement of the lugs in the openings with the movement of the lugs on the beveled face so as to compensate for expansion. It is, of course, understood in connection with the illustration in Fig. 3, that where I have shown two of the tongues Ha, one may be suiiicient in some instances. out that where one spring tongue is employed, the resilient tension of the same will hold the opposite projection against the edge of the depend ing flange Ea.

In Fig. 4, I have illustrated substantially the same type of spring fingers i lb except that they do not necessarily have the openings for the reception of the projecting lugs 9, the reason for this being that the projecting lugs are not required. Instead of. using the projecting lugs to co-operate with the spring fingers, I make a special typefloi percolator top lb, the difierence being that the apron Hlb is configured with a plurality of spaced notches or recesses 22 and 21' each having undercut rounded beveled surface 23 terminating in an outwardly and downwardly slanting bevel. 25 which, in turn, terminates in arresting ledge 25 which will serve in the same capacity as the ledge l8, referred to in Figs. 1 and 2. Alternate ones of these notches or recesses 22 are made with converging or beveled opposite side walls 26. The intermediate ones 27 of the recesses are not so constructed, and, for instance, as illustrated by the similar notch 210 in Fig. 5, have straight sides at substantially right angles to the outer surface of the apron illb. The function of the straight sided notches or recesses 2'! will be hereinafter referred to., i

In applying the top 1?) in the form of the invention shown in Fig. 4, since there are no projecting lugs employed, the notches, such as 8 in Fig. 10, may be dispensed with so that the top is simply inserted in the opening and then rotated, with the spring tongues wiping across the flush surface of the apron Mb until they are seated in the recesses.

or notches with their lower edges contacting with the beveled lower walls or surfaces;.24. The reason for using alternate ones of. the notches with straight sides and beveled. sides, respectively, is to accommodate the top 11) in percolators in which the lids are either hinged or have a slip top so to speak. Where. the lid is a slip cover, as shown in'Fig. d at 512, the tongues will seat in the straight sided notches such as 21, and after once seating in the same, the spring tongues cannot be removed by turning. Therefore, the top lb is fixed to the lid to such an extent that it may be used as a handle for pulling the lid out and turning the lid to make the removal of the, same easier. Whenever it is desirable to remove the spring tongues from these straight sided notches, an instrument suitable for the purpose may be inserted under the edges of the spring tongues, and, to leave the edges accessible for this purpose, the lower end wall of each of the notches or recesses is made with an undercut recess or inclined groove 28, so that the instrument may be inserted for springing the tongues out of the notches 21. For those types of lids which are hinged to the percolator, the spring tongues may seat in the notches 22 which have the beveled sides 26 and these latter sides will cam the tongues out of the notches onto the outer flush surface of the apron h'lb on rotating the top. i

InFig. 5, I have illustrated the same type of top as in Fig. 4. except that'it is one which is especially adapted for large percolators where additional retaining means, such as spring fingers 13 in Fig. 1, are employed. In this con- In this connection, it should be pointed 75 greatest use is with covers which are of material 1 surfaces 32 and 33.

nection, the radial flange I 50, instead of being wavy as is the flange l5 in Fig. 1, is made with edges 29 and 30 which are slanted in opposite directions from the diametrically opposite sides of the top. Parts 220, 23c and 280 correspond to similar parts 22, 23 and 28 in Fig. 4. It is of course to be understood that the construction of the radial flange I may be employed on the top without co-operating use of the notches or recesses 22 and 21. In other words, spring fingers or tongues such as l3 may be employed in the combination with the radial flange I50 as the sole means of retaining the top in place. In this instance, the apron will be preferably plain, as shown in Fig. 3, and even without the projecting lugs such as 9.

In Fig. 6, the top Id is made with an apron Hid, one surface of the circumference of which bears against the depending flange 6d of the lid End With the lower surface having a continuous bevel as at 3| which terminates adjacent the edge of the apron in peripherally slanting or beveled surfaces 32 and 33 which extend in opposite directions from the diametrically opposite sides of the top forming an annular shoulder. 01' considering it otherwise, an annular circumferentially extending recess is provided between the bead 60 and the ledge formed by the surfaces 32 and 33, the recess being below the outer circumferential surface of the flange or apron Hid. These surfaces provide ledges against which the ends of the spring tongues lld contact. The spring tongues, in this form, are hinged, as at 36, to short mounting plates 35, which are riveted as at Hid, to thelid 5d. The space between the depending flange 6d and the top of the lid 5d provides an annular recess under the lid in which the hinges 3% for the spring tongues lid are free to move, the hinges in this respect being urged upwardly by the leaf springs 35 which are riveted as at l2d.

Since'the edges of the spring tongues lid bear against the ledge made by the surfaces 32 and 33, expansion of the top 1d will exerta thrust on r the spring tongues, and, were it not for the resiliency of the tongues and the space behind the depending flange Ed in which they may move, the expanding action of the top would be very apt to snap or break off the ledge provided by the To avoid this, the hinges for the spring tongues and the space in which the hinges are free to move, are provided. At the meeting ends of the surfaces 32 and 33, the ledge has a beveled lifting surface 31 which will cause the spring tongues to ride onto the surface of the apron so that the top may then be lifted out of the opening.

In Figs. '7 and 9, I have illustrated still another form of retaining means for holding the top 5e connected to the cover by the use of a ring formed of spaced fingers 38 connected at their upper ends to form an annular continuous inextensible ring, the same being formed with a rolled edge 39 forming an annular groove on the outside of the ring to receive the edge of the opening in the lid 5e. This form of my invention is especially adapted for use in connection with porcelain, enameled or similar covers, which are easily chipped and are, therefore, unsuitable to accommodate rivets as in the other forms dedescribed. However, the use of this form of my invention is not limited to such containers.

In Fig. '7, I show a top 'le in cover 5e. This cover can be made of any class of material but its too hard to be flexed or deformed without injury, like in a porcelain enameled steel, which will not flex or deform without chipping, or, with soft material like aluminum, which is too soft to be flexed to a permanent position and exert enough pressure to hold the top-in position in the cover, when the percolator is in use, thus to prevent the top from falling out of the opening in the lid onto the floor.

Experience has shown that the depth of the depression formed by the rolled edge 39' should be no more than one-half the thickness of the metal the cover is made from. When aluminum is used the thickness of the cover is about 1/64 inch, thus the depression would not be more than 1/128. When aluminum is used it is possible to make the holes or openings in the percolator lids nearly the exact diameter of the bottom of the recess in the rolled edge of the ring. The aluminum will give sufficiently to enable the ring to be snapped into position within the opening either while the ring is on the top or separate therefrom. The ring can be inserted in the opening either from the under side or upper side of the cover.

The ring can be first placed on the top about the apron thereof and in this position the ends of the spring fingers 38 will contact the beveled surface 42 or the stop ledge 43. The top, with the ring thereon, can then be inserted in the opening in the lid and by a slight pressure on the top the outwardly projecting bases of the spring fingers 38 will yield inwardly and permit the edge of the opening in the lid to snap into the recess in the edge of the ring. Note that the spaces between the adjacent fingers 38 extend high enough to practically reach the bottom of the groove or recess formed in the edge of the ring. These projecting fingers on the ring, therefore, have means for contacting not only the upper side of the ledge 63 but also have means for engaging the under side of the lid 56 so that even if the portion of the ring lying above the lid of the percolator were not present, the ring would still be effective to prevent the top from being removed from the cover.

It will be clearly seen that in cases where the opening in the cover is too small, or in cases where the ring is too large, or is deformed out of shape as compared with the opening in the cover, the apron of the top can be placed in the opening and then the ring slipped onto the apron until the lower ends of the tongues 38 of the ring snap into place within the depression in the apron and will be held in place by the configuration 52 or 43, the upper portion of the ring contacting the under side of the cover to hold the top in place.

This last mentioned method of employing the ring can be used with percolators now in use and having depending flanges around the openings in the lids thereof, such as in Fig. 6. By making the ring slightly larger in diameter than the flange on the lid, the ring can be slipped over the apron of the top, and then over the flange on the cover until the spring fingers 38 snap in place and the upper portion of the ring contacts the cover.

In the use of the ring with porcelain enameled lids, it is very difiicult to get the enamel around the edges of the opening to be of even thickness. Thus the opening is at times too small for the ring to pass into. Thismakes it necessary to employ the method set forth in the second paragraph above.

In Fig. 8, substantially the same retaining deand 9, is illustrated in' Figs. '7 and 8. The top in this connection has an apron Hie with a beveled annular surface 4| terminating in an outwardly beveled surface 42 which, in turn, terminates in a ledge 43. The block-like restricted areas 44 at diametrically opposite sides of the top will be provided with the projecting lugs Be, as in the other form of top shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and these lugs are intended to seat between the fingers 38 M68 and in the complementary squared notches 45 at the lower terminations of the slits 45 which divide or separate the fingers. The ring, in'iall the three forms shown in Figs. '7, 8 and 9,

, will be made with opposed notches 8' substan A tially like the notches 8 shown in Fig. 10, so as to accommodate the projecting lugs 96 when the top is inserted in the opening of the lid.

While the ring shown in Fig. 8, of course, cannot be rotated, being an integral part of the lid, the separately formed rings shown in Figs. 7 and 9 may possibly rotate and for this reason, at opposite sides of the peripheral edge of the open-- ing, I provide notches corresponding to the notches 8' so that the metal which forms the notches 8' in the collar will seat in the notches inthe edge of the opening and lock the ring against rotation.

In inserting a top in place in this form of the invention, it will be rotated until the projecting lugs 9e are seated between the fingers. The reason for rotating the top before letting the projecting lugs 96 come to rest between the fingers, is to make the lugs out of registration with the notches 8'. Otherwise, all that would benecessary would be to insert the top inplace and it would seat between the fingers. The resiliency of the fingers and the spaced relation of the same provided by the slits 46, divide the resilient tension in the fingers so that they'grip the lugs 9e and securely hold the top in place.

As an added advantage of the spring fingers 38, it will be possible to bend two of them inwardly, as shown in Fig. 7, so that their lower edges will wipe against the outwardly beveled annular surface 42 and thus retain the top in place without the lugs 9e. To release the top from this particular retainer, it would be re tated until the two spring fingers come in contact with the beveled sides 48 of the block-like areas 44 which would enable them to ride onto the surface of the said areas, after which the top could be withdrawn. The fingers 38 which are bent inwardly would function in substantially the same capacity as the spring tongues Hb in Fig. 4 and previously described.

Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 1'7 illustrate four modifications of spring tongues, for instance, in Fig. 11, the spring tongue llh, providedwith the opening or perforation 65, is shown with an integral rivet 49 which may be used in lieu of the rivets l2.

In Fig. 12, the spring tongue I I g is shown with an intermediate web 50 which will permit an instrument to be inserted under the tongue to lift it up. This will be useful where a ledge,

such as 43 or 33, is employed on the top. It will also be useful where a top is provided with notches, such as Hand 21, Figs. 4 and 5. It will co-operate in this instance very nicely with the undercut notchesor inclined grooves 28 and 28c shown in those figures.

In Fig. 13, the tongue I In is shown with an open slot 5!, instead of the round opening 65 shown in Fig. 11. This open slot will straddle the projecting lugs and the engagement between the tongues constructed with the open slots and perforations will be substantially the same.

In Fig.17, the spring tongue ilk is crimped, as at 52 and has a p rforation 62. Thisparticular form of tongue is shown in the assembly view in Fig. 3 and it will be noted that it embraces the projecting lugs 8a in a slightly different manner than where a crimp is not used. The stiffness added to the tongue by the crimp increases the tension of the engagement and it also grips a greater area of the lugs than without the crimp, when the lugs ride under the spring tongueshaving the crimp 52. If the lug is in the crimp but out of the opening 62, the spring tongue will still resist upward movement of the top. i

By providing the crimp, the end'of the tongue around the opening therein substantially corresponds to the cross-section of the lug so that when the tongue movesout on rotation of the top, it does not move as far out of its normal position as with illustrated.

In Figs. 14, and 16, I have illustrated a topwith a modified form of projecting lug. The lug 53 in'this form, is cup-shaped and is molded as'an integral part of the apron Him of the top 'im. The retaining device which may be-used with this lug is shown in Fig. Hand comprises a spring tongue Hm, but since the end of the tongue seats within the lug, it need notbe' provided with an opening or slot as illustrated in connection with the other tongues.

'Where the spring tongue Ha is held in place by a rivet as shown in Fig. 3 at 21, it is possible that the tongue may turn. To prevent this turning movement, the depending flange Gm of the lid may be made with a hump, such as 54 (Fig. 14), to provide a bearing surface for the tongue and resist any tendency that it may have to rotate about its single pivot.

It is, of course, understood that the particular cooperative relationship of the parts as illustrated is not necessarily confined to the arrangements shown in the drawings, as many of the parts are interchangeable so as to provide both atop and a retainer therefor for many different specific purposes. i

It is understood that in the specification and in the elaims,that wherever reference is made to spring clips, tongues orretaining means, or to resilient means, or similar means, that applicant is using these terms in the sense that they imply a means that is capable of being deflected out of its normal position and will return-to its normal position again automatically unless restrained, without material permanent distortion as in the case where a soft metal is used, such as aluminum, tin, or the like. 1 In other words, when it is deflected out of its normal path, energy is stored' up therein and this results in a yielding force tending to return the means to its n'ormal position. This causes grippingof the percolator top or lugs and permits one to insert andremove a percolator top many times without destroying the operativeness of the spring, or resilient means.

Obviously, those skilled in the art may make various changes in the details and arrangements of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended, and I, therefore, do not wish to be restricted to the precise construction herein disclosed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A container lid having an opening therein, a glass top having an apron fitting into said opening, an annular shoulder on said top for limiting the movement of said apron into said opening, downwardly and inwardly projecting spring clips on said lid at opposite sides of said opening, and diametrically disposed lugs on said top for engaging said clips to frictionally hold the top connected to said lid.

2. In a percolator cover, the combination with a lid having an opening therein, of a glass top having an apron adapted to fit loosely in said opening, a lug on said top projecting laterally from said apron, and a spring clip connected to said lid in position to engage said lug and having means thereon co-operating with said lug to hold the top connected to the lid while permitting relative movement therebetween sufiicient to compensate for unequal expansion of said top and lid.

3. A percolator cover comprising a lid having an opening therein, and a resilient clip projecting downwardly and inwardly from the edge of said opening and adapted to hold in said opening a glass top having a lateral projection thereon, said clip having means to releasably engage said projection to resist removal of said top from said opening. I

4. A percolator cover comprising a lid having an opening therein, and a plurality of spaced resilient perforated clips adapted to engage a glass top having a lateral projection forming a retaining shoulder, when said top is in said opening, said clips having portions projecting toward the center of said opening in position to have their lower ends engage said projection on said top.

5. In a percolator cover, the combination with a ring lid, of spring clips projecting downwardly from the edge of the opening in said lid, a glass top having an apron adapted to fit loosely into said opening, a beveled recess retainer in said apron to co-act with said spring clips tohold the top in said opening, and means on said apron to co-act with said clips to release the latter from said retainer upon turning the top relatively to said lid.

6. In a percolator cover, the combination with a lid having an opening therein, of a glass top having an apron adapted to fit loosely in said opening, a recess in said apron having a beveled lower portion, and a spring clip connected to said lid in position to extend into said recess and engage the beveled surface thereof to hold the top in said lid while the lower end of said clip is free to ride over said beveled surface during expansion and contraction of said lid relatively to said top.

7. In a percolator cover, the combination with a lid having an opening therein, of a glass top having an apron fitting in said opening, a resilient retainer attached to said lid, a recess in said apron having a lower beveled surface, said retainer being adapted to extend into said recess and engage said beveled surface, and a stop ledge for engaging said retainer to prevent the removal of said top from said lid.

8. In a percolator cover, the combination with a lid having an opening therein, of a top having an apron fitting into said opening, a recess in said apron with its lower surface beveled downwardly and outwardly, a spring clip on said lid in position to extend into said recess, said clip upon expansion of said top relative to said lid being adapted to ride over said beveled surface and thereby relieve the strain of said expansion on said top, a stop ledge below said beveled surface for preventing removal of the top from said lid, and a recess in said stop ledge for the insertion of an instrument under said clip to pry the same free from said stop ledge when said top is to be intentionally removed from said lid.

9. In a percolator cover, the combination with a lid having an opening, of a glass top having an apron adapted to fit the opening in said lid, a recess in the apron having a lower beveled surface and a lateral beveled surface, and a spring clip on said lid in position to extend into said recess and engage said beveled surface.

10. In a percolator cover, the combination with a lid having an opening therein, of a glass top having an apron fitting Within said opening, a plurality of spaced recesses in said apron, alternate ones being provided with straight side walls and all provided with beveled lower surfaces, stop ledges below the lower beveled surfaces, and a spring clip on the lid adapted to project into any one of said recesses, one of said ledges having. a recess therein for the insertion of a tool to pry away the spring clip sufiiciently from said ledge to allow intentional removal of the top from said lid.

11. A glass percolator top having an apron, a recess in said apron having a lower beveled surface adapted to be engaged by holding means on a lid, and a stop having a substantially horizontal surface extending from said beveled surface to prevent accidental removal of said top from said lid.

12. In a percolator cover, the combination with a lid, of a glass top having an apron fitting an opening in said lid, a recess in said apron with the lower portion of said recess beveled downwardly and outwardly, a spring clip on said lid in position to project into said recess when the top is connected to said lid, and a stop having a horizontal surface extending laterally from said beveled surface, said stop having a recess therein for the reception of a tool under the lower end of said spring clip, whereby said clip can be released from said stop.

13. A glass percolator top having an apron with a recess therein within the thickness thereof, said recess having side walls at substantially right angles to the surface of the apron, and a lower wall extending inwardly from the surface of the apron at substantially a right angle and then at an inclination thereto, said portion which is at substantially right angles having an inclined groove therein.

14. A glass top for percolators having an apron and a recess within the thickness thereof, said recess having the lower wall thereof formed with one portion at substantially right angles to the surface of the apron and another portion at an angle to the latter portion, the first portion having an inclined groove therein substantially in alignme itwith the second mentioned portion.

15. A glass percolator top comprising anapron having a recess therein and an outwardly and downwardly inclined portion forming a stop ledge adapted to engage a spring on a percolator lid to hold the top in said lid. 7

16. In a cover for a percolator, the combination with a lid having an opening therein and depending spring clips on said lid near said opening, of a glasstop having an apron extending into said opening, and projecting means on said top slidably co-operating with means on the spring clips to hold said top in said opening but permitting relative movement sufficient to compensate for unequal expansion of said top and lid. 1'7. A percolator cover comprising a lid having an opening therein, provided with a resilient clip adapted to engage and hold in said opening a glass top having means thereon for inter-engagement with said clip.

18. In a percolator cover, the combination with a lid having a circular opening therein, of a glass top having a depending cylindrical flange thereon fitting within said opening and having an outside diameter no greater than the inside diameter of said opening, said flange having a circuiar circumferentially disposed recess therein below the outer surface thereof, of a ring separate from said lid and top surrounding said flange and having a portion thereon abutting against the lower side of the edge of said lid surrounding said opening and a portion arranged within said recess to prevent removal of said top.

19. In a percolator cover, the combination with a lid having a circular opening therein, of a glass top having a depending cylindrical flange thereon fitting within said opening and having an outside diameter no greater than the inside diameter of said opening, said flange having a circumferentially disposed recess therein below the outer surface thereof, of a resilient ring separate from said lid and top surrounding said flange and having a portion thereon abutting against the lower side of the edge of saidlid surrounding said opening and aportion arranged within said recess to prevent removal of said top, said recess having a sloping surface presented to engage said latter portion of said resilient ring to compensate for unequal rates of expansion of said top and lid and to hold said top firmly in said opening.

20. In a percolator cover, the combination with a lid having an opening therein, of an annular ring arranged within said opening and having a portion adapted to receive the edge of said lid sur ounding said opening to hold said lid and ring in fixed relation to each other, a glass top having a flange fitting within said ring, said flange having a recess therein, and means on said ring arranged within said recess.

21. In a percolator cover, the combination with a lid having an opening therein, of an annular ring arranged within said opening and having a portion adapted to receive the edge of said lid surrounding said opening to hold said lid and ring in fixed relation to each other, a glass top having a flange fitting within said ring, said flange having a recess therein, and spring fingers on said ring having the ends thereof engaging within said recess for yieldingly holding said top firmly within said opening with freedom of expansion and contraction relative to said lid.

22. A percolator cover comprising a lid having an opening therein, a glass top having a portion thereof extending into said opening, spaced lugs on said top arranged peripherally thereof, and spring clips on said lid extending inwardly'and downwardlyinto engagement with said lugs to hold said top in said lid but permitting unequal expansion ofsaid top and lid without destroying the operative engagement of said spring clips with said lugs.

23. A glass percolator top comprising a body having a depending flange for insertion in an opening of a percolator lid, said flange having an outer peripherally extending bead for engagement with the upper surface of said lid and having the engaging surface thereof substantially in a single plane, said flange having a ledge extending peripherally there-about with different portions thereof facing said engaging surface of said bead at different distances from said bead and merging gently with each other so as to provide various portions to be engaged by a retaining means 'onsaid lid to compensate for differences in sizes and proportions in tops and lids.

24. A glass percolator top comprising a body having a depending flange for insertion in an opening of a percolator lid, said flange having an outer peripherally extending bead for engagement with the upper surface of said lid and having the engagin' surface thereof substantially in a single plane, said flange'having a ledge extending peripherally there-about with diiferent portions thereof facing said engaging surface of said bead at different distances from said bead and merging gently with each other so as to provide various portions to be engaged by a retaining means on said lid to compensate for differences in sizes and proportions in tops and lids, said ledge having in addition, portions extending abruptly toward said bead and acting as limiting stops for preventing rotation of said top in said opening due to the engagement of theretaining means with said stops when said top is rotated in said opening of said lid.

25. In a percolator cover, the combination with a lid having an opening therein for receiving a glass percolator top, a glass top arranged Within said opening of means on said top for limiting movement of said top into said opening, and a removable continuous inextensible ring member having means thereon for engaging the underside of said lid and also a portion upon said top, whereby on relative rotation of said ring and top to move said ring and top into operative clamping relation with respect to each other, the removal of said top from said opening is prevented, and said top is held firmly within said opening.

26. In a percolator cover, the combination with a lid having an opening therein for receiving a glass percolator top, of a glass top, means on said top for limiting movement of said top into said opening, and a removable ring-like member having means thereon for engaging the underside of said lid and also a portion on said top, whereby when said ring and top are in operative position, the accidental removal of said top from said opening is prevented, and said top is held firmly within said opening, said ring-like member being arranged in operative position on said top either before or after insertion of said top into said opening.

27. A continuous ring of the class described, comprising a body portion and means extending therefrom and arranged to contact a configuration on a percolator top to retain the same in the lid of a percolator.

28. A ring of the class described, comprising a body portion and means extending therefrom,

said body portion being arranged to contact an apron on a percolator top, and the extending means at least one depression in said apron.

29. A percolator top having an apron and a bead thereabove for limiting movement of said apron into an opening in a percolator cover, said apron being provided with a circular abutment spaced from said limiting means, thus forming an annular depression between the limiting means and said abutment surface, a separate ring on said apron adapted to fit in said annular depression and also contacting the limiting bead, said ring having fingers thereon adapted to hold the top and cover together.

30. A percolator top retaining means comprising a ring, a rolled edge portion and integral spring fingers projecting therefrom.

31. In combination with a coffee pot lid having a central opening, a percolator top provided with a bead and an apron, said apron having an outwardly extending portion and a separate inextensible resilient ring encircling the apron above the extending portion, to lock the lid and top together.

32. A percolator top having an apron and a bead thereabove for limiting the movement of said apron into an opening in a percolator lid, said apron being provided with a depression below the outer surface thereof, a separate ring on said apron, a part thereof fitting in said depression and also contacting said limiting bead, said ring having fingers thereon adapted to hold the top and cover together.

33. In combination with a coffee pot lid having a central opening, a percolator topfitting within said opening, of a continuous ring of flexible material provided with spring means between the lid and top for securing them together.

34. In combination with a coffee pot lid having a central opening, and a percolator top to fit said opening, of a separate continuous ring of resilent material provided with spring fingers, the top having means engaging the spring fingers for locking the top and lid together.

35. In combination with a cofiee pot lid having a central opening, and a percolator top to fit said opening, of a continuous ring of resilient material, provided with spring means, the top having means engaging the spring means for locking the top and lid together.

36. A cofiee pot lid provided with a central opening and a percolator top fitting said opening, a separate spring means secured to the lid and depending around said opening, and means on the top. for engaging said spring means to lock it to the lid.

37. In combination, a coffee pot lid having a central opening, a percolator top having a circular bead and a depending apron provided with an enlargement and a separate continuous re silient ring encircling the apron above said enlargement for retaining the lid and top in locked relation.

38. A coffee pot lid provided with an opening, a percolator top fitting said opening having an apron provided with a configuration thereon, separate spring means detachably carried by the apron, and provided with means for engaging the configuration to hold the lid and top together, and to hold said spring means on said top during and after insertion of said top into said opening, and said spring means being so shaped as to permit the insertion of said top into said opening while the spring means is so held in place on said top.

39. In combination, a coffee pot lid having a central opening, a percolator top, and a separate ring having inwardly projecting resilient means for co-action with means on the top, to retain the lid and top in locked relation.

40. In combination, a coffee pot lid having a central opening, a percolator top having a bead and a depending apron, a separate continuous ring provided with spring means for co-action with means on the apron, to retain the lid and top in locked relation.

41. A top for coffee pots having an apron and means thereabove for limiting movement of said apron into an opening in a percolator lid, the apron having a circular abutment or ledge spaced from said limiting means, thus forming an annular depression between the limiting means and the abutment or ledge.

42. A container cover having an opening, a percolator top having an apron and means thereabove for limiting movement of said apron into said opening, said apron being provided with a circular abutment spaced from said limiting means, thus forming an annular depression between the limiting means and said abutment, and a separate ring-like element inextensible when in place in said depression, to lock the top and cover together.

43. A percolator top having a portion to be received Within an opening in a percolator lid provided with two annular abutment surfaces spaced from each other to form an annular retaining means receiving recess therebetween.

44. In combination with a cofiee pot lid having a central opening, of a percolator top having a bead and a depending apron, said apron being provided with an abutment spaced from said bead and having one or more depressions in the space between said bead and said abutment, and a resilient ring having means coacting with said depression or depressions for locking said top and lid together.

EMIEL P. SEGI-IERS. 

